Oct. 2, 2010

Women's Stats

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – James Maglasang earned his first career victory as a Memphis Tiger, besting the field at the Rhodes Invitational, Saturday. In addition to Maglasang, three Lady Tiger runners had top-10 finishes in their race, leading the women’s squad to a second-place team finish.

Maglasang staked his claim as one of the better runners in the area, besting his next closest competitor by six seconds with a 25:40 mark. Maglasang becomes the first Tiger runner to win a meet since Mate Nemeth won the 2004 C-USA cross country championships.

“James is running very solid,” said head coach Doug Clark. “He had his first real chance at a victory and he took it.”

Sophomore Robert Skinner held his own in the race, finishing 17^th with a 27:10 mark. Joe Coneo, the lone senior for the Tiger runners, finished 31^st with a 27:42 time.

“Robbie is really coming on for us,” said Clark. “We weren’t sure about him as a distance runner but he’s become a solid No. two for us.”

Three Lady Tiger runners finished in the top-10: freshmen Ellen Kildal (sixth), Jenny Johnston (ninth) and junior Jasmine Darden (tenth) paced the Lady Tigers to a second-place finish behind host Rhodes. For Johnston, it was her second top-10 finish in four races, while Kildal and Darden each got their first top-10 finishes as Lady Tigers.

“Racing two weeks in a row caught up to both squads,” said Clark. “They looked a little flat. Jasmine Darden came up big for us today.”

The second-place team score was the best by a Tiger squad, men’s or women’s, since the men’s squad posted a second-place team score at the SEMO Invitational, Oct. 24 2005.

“We’re not dominant but we’re making strides,” said Clark. “I’d like to congratulate Rhodes for their performances today; they showed us how it’s done.”